The Chicago Sky will need to figure out their guard rotation as they enter their first preseason matchup on Friday. The Sky may get a full taste of their guard play when they take on the Brazilian National Team at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center later this week. Head coach Tyler Marsh said he will not make any cuts before the preseason matchup, according to a Tuesday tweet from Chicago Tribune Sky beat writer Julia Poe.
Chicago has a number of additions who could take up spots on the roster, including the new point guard duo of Courtney Vandersloot and Hailey Van Lith. Two veteran options in Arella Guirantes and Alex Wilson could be fun to watch out for at the two guard should it need to continue adding experience off the bench. Ariel Atkins, one of the Sky's headliners heading into their 2025 campaign, will need to be one of the key catalysts in turning Chicago's offense around and locking down opponents on the perimeter.
How will Moriah Jefferson, a nine-year veteran with a number of different squads, be able to make her mark in the Sky's point guard rotation next season?
Moriah Jefferson will need to make an impact with her passing
Jefferson will need to be a creator for the Sky in a point guard rotation that features plenty of passing talent.
While her shooting will be valuable to Chicago's offense, it will ultimately be her ability to find her teammates that could make her a difference maker for an ascending Sky squad. Chicago has had the luxury of having reliable playmakers at the point to rely on for more than a decade with Vandersloot and Courtney Williams, who notched two triple-doubles during her lone season in Sky blue. While Vandersloot will make her return to Chicago in 2025, it will ultimately be up to Jefferson and Van Lith to keep up the passing talent off the bench.
Jefferson's passing prowess goes all the way back to her time with a few dominant UConn squads, where she averaged as many as 5.5 assists per game during her four seasons with the Huskies. She averaged as many assists as she did points in 2024 as she split time between the Sky and Connecticut Sun. While she will likely need to battle for minutes with Van Lith, who was put in a solid position to succeed in Chicago's offense, her proven playmaking could give her a leg up as she tries to solidify her place on the Sky's roster.